Fauna
Species

Tench

Tinca tinca

Also known as Doctor Fish

Tench are stocky, bottom-dwelling cyprinids renowned for their thick, olive-green skin coated in heavy protective slime and tiny, deeply embedded scales. They thrive in murky, weed-choked waters with remarkably low oxygen levels, spending daylight hours hidden within dense submerged vegetation before foraging across silty beds at dawn and dusk. During harsh winters or periods of extreme drought, they can bury themselves deep into soft mud and enter a dormant state until favorable conditions return.

FreshwaterBottom-feederHardy
Tench reference1 / 7
Mattia Nocciola / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyChironomid Larvae, Freshwater Snails, Water Fleas
Predators
  • Northern Pike
  • Eurasian Otter
  • Grey Heron
ThreatsHabitat loss from wetland drainage, river canalization, and excessive aquatic weed clearing
HabitatsSlow-moving lowland rivers, vegetated lakes, canals, ponds, and brackish estuaries
Life span15–20 years
Classification
  1. FamilyCyprinidae
  2. SpeciesTinca tinca
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Spotting Bubbles: Look for clusters of tiny bubbles breaking the surface above weed beds, which signal tench sifting the silt below.
  • Angling Etiquette: Use wet hands and soft unhooking mats to avoid stripping away the thick, protective mucus layer on their skin.
Related species
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